I Love Mexican Vacations

Comic genius Billy Crystal (When Harry Met Sally) stars in this hilarious film about cowboys, careers and mid-life crises.Co-starring Daniel Stern, Bruno Kirby and Jack Palance in an Academy Award-winning role, City Slickers is the rowdiest western jokefest since Blazing Saddles (Rolling Stone). It ll rope you in…and keep you laughing from first frame to last!New Yorker Mitch Robbins (Crystal) is 39 and miserable. He s tired of his job and bored with his life. And his two best friends Ed, (Kirby) and Phil (Stern), aren t doing much better. So when they all decide to chase their troubles away with a fantasy vacation, Mitch and his pals trade their briefcases for saddlebags and set out to find freedom and adventure herding cattle under the wide New Mexico sky. But what they discover instead is scorching sun, sore backsides…and more insight into themselves and each other than they ever thought possible!

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While you’re unlikely to get an all-expenses-paid trip unless you win a game show, you can still get portions your trip for free if you book certain promotions or take advantage of some alternative modes of travel. Here are my picks for top limited-time and long-term “free” travel deals worth checking out.

1. Kids Fly Free to French Polynesia

Never considered French Polynesia for family vacation? Maybe Air Tahiti Nui’s kids-fly-free deal will persuade you. When you book two adult Air Tahiti Nui fares from Los Angeles to French Polynesia from January 12 to May 31, 2009, you’ll get two free fares for kids ages 11 or younger. The deal is valid for flights to Papeete, Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Bora Bora, Rangiroa, Manihi, Tikehau, and Fakarava. Adult fares start at $1,428, including all taxes. You’ll still be responsible for paying taxes on the free children’s fares.

2. Organize a Group Tour, Travel for Free

If you organize a group of people to book a package tour together, many tour companies will allow you, the group leader, to travel for free. You can choose to accept the freebie or spread some savings out to everyone in your group. Either way, it’s a good deal. Each tour operator’s group tour policy varies a bit, but most require you to put together a group with at least 10 paying individuals before you’ll get a free spot.

For example, Grand Circle Tours, a company that runs trips geared towards mature travelers on six continents, lets a group leader travel for free with 10 paid travelers on river cruises or 16 paid travelers on land tours. Go Ahead Tours, a similar operator, gives two free spots for every group of 12 or more paying guests. Be sure to ask your tour company if they offer similar deals.

3. Pay for Three Nights, Get Seven at Club Med

Club Med’s recurring “Seven-Day Weekend” package is back, promising seven nights for the price of three at eight of its all-inclusive resorts. The deal is valid at family-friendly Club Meds in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Cancun and Ixtapa, Mexico; Sandpiper, Fla.; Caravelle, Guadeloupe; and Buccaneer’s Creek, Martinique; as well as adult-only Clubs Meds on Columbus Isle, Bahamas, and on Turks and Caicos. You must book by December 15 and travel by February 13 to take advantage of the promotion. Seven-Day Weekend prices range from $793 per person (normally $1,190) at the Sandpiper, Florida Club Med to $1,065 per person (normally $1,610) at the Buccaneer’s Creek, Martinque Club Med.

4. Free Weekend Rental Days From Hertz

Hertz knows the only the thing better than a weekend away is a three-day weekend away. The company makes it easier for renters to take longer weekend trips by offering the first day free when you rent a car for three or more weekend days, including a Saturday overnight. The deal applies to economy- through premium-class cars rented through March 31, 2009, in the U.S. and Canada, excluding Hawaii

5. Kids-Fly-and-Ski-Free Packages

For the past several winters, United and American Airlines have partnered with popular Western ski resorts to offer kids-fly-and-ski-free vacation packages. Generally, these promotions allow children 12 and under to fly and ski for free when an adult pays for an air-hotel-ski package at a participating resort. While not all fly-and-ski-free promotions have been announced yet for the 2008-2009 ski season, Steamboat Ski Resort in Colorado is already advertising its package, which requires a two-night minimum stay at a ResortQuest Steamboat vacation rental. Valid travel dates and blackout periods apply. Be sure to check the American Vacations and United Vacations websites in the days to come to see if other resorts join the promotion.

6. Swap Homes, Stay Free

Why not swap your apartment in New York for a cottage in the English countryside? Or maybe my Utah ski condo for your second home in Costa Rica?

By participating in a home exchange, you can get free use of another person’s house if you’re willing to let them stay in yours. It’s a common practice for a certain segment of travelers who prefer staying in vacation homes over hotels and are a bit flexible with where and when they travel. Essentially, two home owners in different places agree to switch places for vacation, using one another’s homes for no charge. Home exchange websites make it easy to find and make arrangements with other home owners, with the website usually charging a membership fee in order for you to make contact with potential exchange partners. HomeExchange.com is one of the largest of such sites, including more than 24,000 listings in destinations across the globe. A one-year membership costs $100.

7. Free Universal Orlando Theme Park Passes

This coming fall and winter, Universal Orlando is giving kids ages 3 to 9 free Unlimited Admission theme park passes when parents book four or more nights at a participating hotel and buy adult Unlimited Admission tickets. Unlimited Admission passes grant the holder seven days of access to both Universal parks, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Passes cost $95 each for both kids and adults, so the free child’s ticket is a big savings.

To get the free passes, you must book a stay of four or more nights at one of six local hotels, including the onsite Loews Royal Pacific Resort. Valid travel dates and blackout periods vary by hotel, but all require bookings to be made by the end of December.

8. Free Airfare for Crystal Cruises Panama Canal Sailings

When you book one of three Crystal Cruises’ Panama Canal sailings, you’ll receive free airfare between Los Angeles and Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, or Palm Beach, Fla. The cruises, which range from 14 to 16 days, sail between Miami and Los Angeles, so Crystal is essentially promising a free flight home from the final port. Departures include January 6, February 16, and May 7, 2009. Cruise fares start at $3,595 per person, not including taxes and fees.

9. Skip the Hostel, Couch Surf for Free

For young budget travelers, sometimes hostels just aren’t cheap enough. In that case, why not crash for free with one of the nearly 800,000 members of the Couch Surfing Project, a worldwide network that helps travelers link up with hosts offering free accommodations. The mission of the network is to promote cultural exchange through free hosted overnight stays. Travelers can find and request stays with potential hosts on the CouchSurfing website. Hosts offer a free place to sleep and oftentimes show guests around or share advice on places to visit nearby. As a member, you can request places to stay and host guests as you please. The site has some checks in place to help ensure the safety and trustworthiness of hosts and surfers.

10. Free Meals and Attractions for Kids in Hawaii

Families staying at ResortQuest Hawaii hotels can take advantage of free meals and free attractions admissions for kids year round. There are 26 participating hotels and condo resorts located on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island.

Upon checking into a ResortQuest property, children ages 12 and under receive a special ID card good for the length of your stay. With the ID, kids get free meals and admissions at dozens of island restaurants and attractions when accompanied by a paying adult. For example, on Oahu, kids get in free to the Polynesian Cultural Center and Honolulu Zoo with an adult admission. On Maui, children eat free with the purchase of an adult entree at the Kobe Japanese Steakhouse and the Beach Club Restaurant.

104Inc.com
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/10-almost-free-travel-deals-681415.html

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Romance - Suspense Fiction - If anyone needs a vacation, its Lake Johnson. After her psychic abilities failed heralmost costing a friends lifeshe hopes a little time away in Taos, New Mexico, will ease … - Black Aura (Books)

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By: Jim Scherrer

Riviera; the word alone tends to conjure pleasant images of beautiful scenery, of calm serenity or relaxation, even of Paradise. By definition, Riviera is an Italian term originally from the Middle Ages for the coast of Liguria. The two divisions of the original Riviera, both of which border the Ligurian Sea, an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, are the Italian Riviera and the French Riviera. Retirement on either Riviera would be wonderful if you have seriously deep pockets, don’t mind the 10 hour transatlantic flight, and the possible language barrier when you’re there!

Today, the term is more generally applied worldwide to about a dozen warm coastal regions popular with tourists. Mexico is blessed with two such regions; the Riviera Maya and the Mexican Riviera.

The Riviera Maya consists of 80 miles of Caribbean coastline wrapping along the eastern side of the Yucatan Peninsula in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. It includes the resort cities of Isla Mujeres, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, and Tulum. This region is a terrific area for visiting with its warm weather, sandy beaches, and historic archaeological sites; it may be a different matter when it comes to retirement. The average daily temperature for the “high season” of November through May along the Riviera Maya is 77°F however you can expect an average monthly rainfall during this season in excess of 3 inches. Also, the Yucatan area is threatened by hurricanes off the Caribbean Sea almost every year with Playa del Carmen and Chetumal being virtually wiped out a few years ago and Cancun devastated in 2005. The topography of the entire Yucatan peninsula is essentially flat with elevation variations of less than 500 feet thereby providing no scenic mountainside retirement communities. This flat topography results in the beautiful large beaches and shallow water that attract the younger generation for spring break vacations and other holidays with a very active night life.

The Mexican Riviera consists of more than 1,000 miles of Pacific Ocean coastline on the western side of Mexico stretching all the way from Ensenada in Baja California to Puerto Escondido and Huatulco in the state of Oaxaca. With the Sierra Madre Mountains running virtually the entire distance, this shoreline has to be considered one of the most scenic on the planet. First dubbed the Mexican Riviera by the American cruise industry, today this magnificent shoreline is the fourth most popular cruise destination in the world with approximately 300 cruises annually. The problem is that approximately 90% of this magnificent terrain is classified as ejido land and is not available for purchase by foreigners. This land was given to the Mexican citizens after the Mexican Revolution for the purpose of farming or working and has not yet been regularized or privatized. The small fraction of land that has been privatized lies in and around the resort destinations along the Mexican Riviera where foreigners can purchase property and hold the title, as an escritura, in a 50 year bank trust. Consequently, almost all retirement communities along the Mexican Riviera are located in the cities of Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Acapulco, Puerto Escondido, and Huatulco.

For retirement consideration, let’s take a closer look at the resorts along this Riviera.

Located only 70 miles south of the US border, Ensenada, known as the “Cinderella of the Pacific”, is a very convenient drive from most of the western cities in the US and really not that far from western Canada. Ensenada now has a population of 450,000 inhabitants of which approximately 20,000 are North American retirees. With beautiful weather and rolling hillsides, the Ensenada area has become world class wine country. Along with the wine industry, Ensenada has a thriving fishing industry, agricultural business, a substantial gravel mining industry, six major maquiladora parks, and of course tourism. The only deep water port in Baja California is located in Ensenada and therefore global shipping of products manufactured in the area is another main source of revenue. The greater Ensenada area is quite large and basically flat with mountains generally in the background surrounding the city. Therefore, most retirees reside in communities lacking hillside views or are in beachfront condominiums. Because the region is more industrial than tourist based, the cost of living is quite attractive in the Ensenada area.

Mazatlan, the “Pearl of the Pacific”, has 500,000 inhabitants and is one of the largest working ports in Mexico. Fishing, agriculture, cotton textile spinning and weaving, sugar refining, breweries, coffee roasting plants, etc. are located in Mazatlan. Approximately 300 miles south of Mazatlan is Manzanillo, the “Sailfish Capital of the World”. It is substantially smaller than the other industrial cities on the western coast of Mexico; however it has become Mexico’s busiest port with a huge volume of containerized freight. Both Mazatlan and Manzanillo rely heavily on industry and much less on tourism. Both of these industrial cities have fine beaches, fine weather, reasonable costs of living, and facilities catering to tourists and retirees.

Acapulco is by far the largest city on the Mexican Riviera with a population exceeding 700,000 people. Due to its easy access from Mexico City, Acapulco was the first resort city to be built along the Mexican Riviera. This popular resort destination offers scenic terrain, beautiful beaches, warm climate, and all the amenities that any tourist would desire. It grew so rapidly that the infrastructure was unable to handle the population; consequently during the past decade the authorities in Acapulco have tried to upgrade the infrastructure, clean up the city and beaches, and return it to world class resort status.

Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo (Ixtapa is actually the resort area where the retirees are located), Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Escondido, and Huatulco are much smaller cities, each having populations of less than 70,000 people; Puerto Escondido and Huatulco, much less. These relatively new resort cities are built around fabulous beaches with magnificent surrounding mountainous terrain. They each have beautiful golf courses and other tourist related activities. They all have modern cruise boat terminals and “international” airports with 2-6 international flights daily. Being strictly resort areas, there are virtually no other industries and therefore most of the local citizens speak some degree of English. Since these resort areas are still quite young and relatively small, some of the amenities that retirees are accustomed to might be lacking. Having small North American communities may offer benefits to some and drawbacks to others. The cost of living in these relatively remote areas may be somewhat higher than in the more accessible, further developed areas. 

The last and probably the most popular resort destination, located in the center of the Mexican Riviera, is Puerto Vallarta; home of nearly 50,000 North Americans. Puerto Vallarta has easy access from Guadalajara, has nearly 50 international flights daily from the US and Canada (more than all the rest of the Mexican Riviera cities combined), and has a Maritime Terminal that was recently upgraded and tripled in size in order to accommodate three large cruise boats simultaneously.

Puerto Vallarta is situated on the shoreline of the 25 mile diameter Banderas Bay which is surrounded by the Sierra Madre Mountains. There are approximately 35 miles of coastal land, much of which has very scenic adjacent hillside property that has been privatized for foreign purchase. Retirement property ranges from beachfront condominium towers to mountainside villas, all of which have panoramic views of the city, the Pacific Ocean, and the Sierra Madres with their native fauna and flora.

This city of 350,000 inhabitants is large enough to support the “big box” stores such as Sam’s Club, Super Wal-Mart, Costco, Home Depot, Office Supply, Office Max, etc. as well as many other mega modern supermarkets. High speed internet, VoIP telephone service, satellite TV, and all the other modern amenities are available in PV. Four new modern hospitals with sophisticated equipment and highly trained doctors are now in Vallarta as are a number of modern dental clinics. The area has always had world class sport fishing and now boasts 8 magnificent signature golf courses, a new convention center, botanical gardens, new parks, and numerous sites to visit. Since Vallarta’s only industry is tourism, communications are never a barrier.

The cost of living in Vallarta is about average for the Mexican Riviera but a fraction of that in Pebble Beach where the scenery might be comparable but the climate is not! Being on the same latitude as Maui, Hawaii, the average daily temperature in Vallarta during the winter months of November through May is 73°F with virtually no chance of rain; i.e., the weather is perfect for whatever activity pleases you and every activity imaginable is available!

As you can readily see, there’s a reason for Puerto Vallarta’s popularity; it basically has it all! So, whether you arrive via one of the 300 Mexican Riviera cruises or by one of the 50 daily flights, you really ought to consider Puerto Vallarta on the Mexican Riviera for your retirement residence. After all, not only is it a short 2-4 hours away but it’s probably the only Riviera you’ll ever be able to afford, except perhaps your dad’s old Buick!

Jim Scherrer
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/retirement-on-the-mexican-riviera-737358.html

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With abounding culture, amazing food and beautiful scenery, it’s no wonder Mexico is a top vacation destination to countless tourists each year. The enormous growth of tourism is reflected in the wide range of Mexico hotels available; from large international chains to small boutique establishments. Mexico enjoys a cultural blend that is entirely unique. The natural exquisiteness of Mexico speaks of the diversity and resilience of a country blossoming with culture, geographic wonders and age-old experience.

There are several hidden treasure just waiting to be discovered. Ancient Aztec pyramids, authentic foods and fantastic shopping. Whether you decide to visit the beautiful beaches famous around the world, historical cities from the time of the Spanish colony and archeological sites of cultures or just hang out in one of the modern cities…Mexico can accommodate. No wonder Mexico travel is one of those things that many people dream about.

Here are three of the most famous destinations in Mexico:

Cancun

Cancun is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico and the world. Its terrific setting, shaped like an island, its year-round mild climate, and its gorgeous, warm, sandy white beaches washed by the Caribbean Sea are perfect for water sports. Scuba diving and snorkeling are ideal here because of the warm crystal-blue Caribbean waters which are home to beautiful coral and active sea life. It is also known for its active nightlife. Downtown Cancun is your hot spot, with numerous world-famous bars and nightclubs that drive the night to the beat of everything from salsa and cumbia to club mixes and world sounds

Acapulco

Acapulco is one of the best places when it comes to Mexico travel. Generally, Acapulco offers a very good nightlife. Acapulco is not just famous for its explosive nightlife, but also for its beaches, unlimited watersports, supreme hotels, gourmet restaurants and the stunning physical beauty of Acapulco Bay. With a character as a haven for the rich and famous, Acapulco has everything a traveler could hope for.

Tulum

Tulum is located 80 miles from Cancun in the Yucatan Peninsula. The last city constructed by the Mayan civilization, was built on the cliffs overlooking the Caribbean Sea. The city thrived mainly from the 15th to the 16th century.  It was originally called Zama which means ‘Dawn’ and is related to its location, which lies on the extreme eastern side of the Yucatan Peninsula, directly facing the sunrise.”    The beauty and the majesty of the Mayan city with the Caribbean as the backdrop was awe inspiring. Waves boom in - against the rocks - the breeze blowing across the water felt better than any imagined. Tulum, Mexico, is everything wonderful about the Mexican Caribbean. It’s getting discovered, but the sugar white beaches are still pleasantly quiet, the ocean is as clear.

Whether you travel Mexico and pack your trip packed of activities, or merely spend your time relaxing on the beach, there is truly an option for all Mexico Vacations.

EllaV
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/mexico-travel-destination-716268.html

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Instead of relying on a cellphone, these walkie-talkies are a practical alternative for both business and personal use such as keeping in touch in busy, crowded places such as trade fairs in large conference centers and vacation parks like Disneyland. Easy to use, these radio walkie talkies are also ideal for safety use when camping where cellular phone signals are not available. A handy built-in flashlight also provides the ability to send light signals or to provide additional illumination when required. At a Glance… Powerful walkie talkies with a range of up to 2.5KM. Enhanced by technology filtering out weak transmissions and interference due to surrounding terrain. Multi-channel scan without changing channels. Backlit display shows channel information, current volume, signal information and remaining battery power. This pair has an 22 channel scan capability for use with open radio frequencies primarily used in the US, Canada, Mexico and other parts of North and South America. If you live in Europe or other regions we recommend ordering model CVGK-J08-EU China Manufacturer Specifications Primary Function: Pair of walkie talkies (handheld transceivers) Communication range: up to 2.5 kilometers Scannable channels: 22 (for North and South America) Power Source: 4x AAA batteries (not included) Dimensions: 98mm (L) x 52mm (W) x 25mm (D) Manufacturer Ref: F7657ECD3DC7 Input/output/connectivity: - Speaker/MIC/Charge Jack Buttons: - Power on/off button - Function button - Monitor button - Up button - Down button - Lamp button - Scan button - Call button - Talk button Product Notes Low power mode to extend battery life ensuring cost-effective operation Built-in flashlight/lamp to send light signals or to provide additional lighting Belt clip to secure attachment of each walkie talkie handset These portable, two way radio transceivers feature technology that can actively filter out weak

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Before I answer with "tell us your citizenship and we can tell you whether you need a visa" I usually check through the previous questions to see whether the citizenship is mentioned in one of them.

Based on your previous questions [two years ago] you:
◙ were a student in the United States on F-1 visa
◙ have married a U.S. citizen who has petitioned for your Green Card
◙ have attended the Green Card interview

How come you are now on a tourist status in the United States?

Anyhow the requirement for a Mexican visa depends on your [unknown] citizenship. Only U.S. Green Card holders are exempt from the Mexican visa requirement regardless of their citizenship.
See the attached link whether no will need a visa.
http://www.inm.gob.mx/EN/index.php?page/not_need_visa ..
Should you hold a passport of Greece [based on your Y!A name] you would not need a visa for up to 180 days as tourist. If you plan to cross a land border you will need to obtain an MFTTV-Tourist Card at a fee of about $20; if you fly you will get it by the airline since it is included in the ticket price.

Be aware of the fact that a short stay in Mexico does not prolong the entitled stay in the United States as granted on Form I-94 by the immigration officer.
https://help.cbp.gov/cgi-bin/customs.cfg/php/enduser/popup_adp.php?p_faqid=751&p_created=1077545436 ..

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Im going on vacation to mexico, and am trying to eat healthy/maintain my diet. What foods and dishes should I look for that are healthy? Which ones should I avoid?
I know there is a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables, but when it comes time to order an entree, what should I look for? Is there a lot of oils and butter used in cooking?
Thanks

mexico does use A LOT of buter, oils, grease to cook foods. so id stay away from restuarants while on your diet. definitely eat as much fruits and veggies as you can, cause thats completely fine and great for your health! you can eat turkey and meats like that but be careful. if i were you, i wouldnt care while on a amazing vacation like mexico. enjoy your self (:

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Me and my friends are going to mexico around the end of August. We know that it’s rainy season and all that, and that it’s super hot and muggy as well. We are going regardless though. I was wondering if anyone knew the least muggy/hot/rainy part of Mexico, if there even is one. So our vacation wont be toooo bad

You should visit the whole place.

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I’m going to cancun in april for a wedding at the Moon Palace Gold & Spa Resort. Its really expensive and i was wondering what the best sites or places to book the trip would be?

Go to Deals2Cancun.com. They give you a 10% rebate when you get home! And the price includes the transfers from the airport to hotel, which was awesome.

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